Sherry Vine

Jerry Nunn is a contributing writer to the GoPride Network. His work is also featured in Windy City Times, Nightspots Magazine and syndicated nationally.

Sherry Vine, known for her parodies of pop songs, just performed this week at Roscoe’s Tavern, 3356 N Halsted. ChicagoPride.com talked to her mere moments before the show.

JN: (Jerry Nunn) Hi, Sherry. What parodies are you doing tonight

SV: (Sherry Vine) Of course I am going to do some Lady Gaga. “I Am Gonna Shit My Pants” and “You’re a Homo” are the songs people want to see hopefully. There are other ones that there are not videos for so people don’t know them but they are really filthy and silly.

JN: I went to watch your Britney Spears “Supersizer” on YouTube.com and there was a warning label on it.

SV: It is a funny story. It was up for a year and had a warning that you had to be eighteen because of adult content. I thought that was fine. But then they took it down and I asked why. They thought there was nudity. They said they could see my vagina.

JN: What? I didn’t see that!

SV: I assured them there was no vagina. I don’t have one since I am a man. I never heard back.

JN: Hilarious! So how long have you been performing in drag?

SV: Eighteen years. Since 1992, isn’t that crazy?

JN: That’s a long time. Your mom has been super supportive right?

SV: Yes, both my parents have been really great. They come to the shows. I get e-mails from my dad with ideas for Sherry. “Supersizer” was a little too much. But they loved the “Shit My Pants” video. They’re cool.

JN: Are you from New York?

SV: No, I grew up in Maryland. I was born in Florida. All of my family is in Florida.

JN: I just got to see your episode on the web series Queens of Drag: NYC. Did you see it yet?

SV: Yeah, I saw the first three. I hate to watch myself but this is one of the first things that I really stand behind. I like what they did. It is something to be proud of. I keep watching Lady Bunny’s episode over and over. It is the funniest thing that I have ever seen.

JN: I just interviewed her recently for Drag U.

SV: She is outrageous. She is out of her mind and hysterical. When you see hers you will fall on the floor!

JN: How did you get involved in the project?

SV: They originally talked to everyone that put on a wig in New York. They went with people that have worked the most. Luckily I am one of them. I was happy to be a part of it.

JN: How did the name Sherry Vine come about?

SV: It was so stupid. It was just Sherry at first when I was living in LA. A friend of mine said for me to take a ride up Vine Street off Hollywood. There is a house up there called the “Sherry.” I drove by and it was totally a crack house. Then Sherry Vine came together. It was perfect.

JN: I am talking to Jack Mackenroth from Project Runway tomorrow. He is producing the web series?

SV: Yes, he is totally producing it, organizing and is behind the camera.

JN: What is next for you in the future?

SV: I have a full plate. I am still traveling a lot. I am promoting the Queens of New York. I wrote an original song, which I am doing a video for.

JN: What’s the song called?

SV: “Looking For a Good Time.” It is very Pink, poppy and rocky. I am very excited about it. I am also doing a soap opera webisode that I am producing, writing and putting together called The Flames of Hell’s Kitchen. It is very over the top funny.

JN: Sounds funny.

SV: So just trying to branch out into other things because there is so much drama with copyrights and everything. YouTube used to be a bit more anything goes but now they feel the pressure so they are pulling everything off. It is really frustrating. Technically it is a parody so I am not making money. So legally I am allowed to do it. But they are really fighting it so I think original content is the way to go.

JN: I just talked to Julie Brown about all of this. She said that as long as she rewrites the music enough then she gets around it that way.

SV: The weird thing is that I am having such a hard time with Gaga stuff, her video content is owned by Sony. They are like Nazis. I never had a problem with my Madonna stuff. Julie Brown changes the music so it is a sound alike and not recognized by them. That is a gray area. That is how I did my version of “Alejandro.” It was worth the money to do that!

JN: Well, great meeting you and looking forward to seeing the show downstairs in a minute.

For more information about the new series, visit www.QueensOf Drag.com. The show debuts exclusively on Gay.com September 8th.